<p>The Ida Cason Callaway Foundation plans to weave homes into the 14,000-acre nature preserve and resort known as Callaway Gardens, the foundations new leader said.</p><p>We believe that human beings are part of nature. So putting human beings into nature in a way that respects nature and respects other plants and animals and helps them thrive is what were about, said Edward Callaway, who was appointed chairman and chief executive on Tuesday.</p><p>Callaway, 48, is the son of Howard H. Bo Callaway, who as chairman emeritus will focus on fund raising for the foundation that oversees the Gardens, the Resort, the Preserve and the Community at Callaway.</p><p>For 18 years, Edward Callaway has been in Colorado, where he was chairman and president of Crested Butte Mountain Resort Inc. Owned by his family for 33 years, that resort is being sold.</p><p>Callaway Gardens in west Georgia employs about 800 people and attracts nearly 1 million visitors a year. It is located 67 miles south-southwest of Atlanta.</p><p>The foundation created by Cason and Virginia Callaway, Edwards grandparents, already has embarked on developing portions of its land residentially. In October, it opened Longleaf at Callaway, which will include 138 homes on 76 acres, priced from $250,000 to more than $400,000. Atlanta-based Cousins Properties Inc. is a partner in the venture, which could include another 100 acres.</p><p>Edward Callaway told The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer that the foundation will remain true to its principles of protecting the environment.</p><p>Were integrating man and nature in a way that respects both, he said. I want the guy who drives a bulldozer at Callaway to be just as recognized by the environmental community as a leader as the person who listens for the birds.</p><p>Callaway said tentative plans call for sprucing up the Pine Mountain resort and blending new lodging and a spa into the existing golf and guest accommodations.</p><p>Bo Callaway, 76, noted similarities between the Gardens of Callaway and the operation in Crested Butte. There are 810 rooms in three lodging properties here, while the ski resort has 600 rooms inside two hotels. They both serve nature enthusiasts, he said, while their revenues are about the same.</p><p>Theyre both resorts that are serving customers and have the same kind of opportunities with employee morale, customer service, and all of the kinds of things that go with that, the elder Callaway said.</p><p>In announcing the leadership change, the foundation said George Fischer has resigned as president and CEO after seven years at the resort. It noted the 40-acre Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl, the 35,000-square-foot Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center and the 54,000-square-foot Southern Pine Conference Center were built under his guidance.</p>
